Nutritional enhancement of plant tissue via supercritical water

A method for enhancing the nutritional value of plant tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• conveying a selected plant tissue material through an extruder so as to define a selected material flowstream, wherein the extruder is configured to continuously convey the selected plant tissue material from an upstream inlet to a supercritical fluid reaction zone;
• injecting hot compressed water into the supercritical fluid reaction zone while the extruder is conveying the selected plant tissue material flowstream into the supercritical fluid reaction zone so as to yield a mixture;
• retaining the mixture within the reaction zone for a period of time sufficient to yield a plurality of plant tissue reaction products, wherein the reaction zone is defined by a tubular reactor having an inner tubular spear, wherein the tubular reactor and the inner tubular spear further define an annular space within the reaction zone, and wherein the mixture flows through the annular space;
• and
• expelling the plurality of plant tissue reaction products out of the supercritical fluid reaction zone and into a reaction products chamber or vessel.